Expert: Imam Habeeb - 6/30/2009

Question
QUESTION: When I became a teenager. Everything changed. Especially my feelings. Of course, the nature of people is to love the one who has a different sex than them?
Everyone in my primary school, and now, in college everyone is like this.
But for me, I discovered that I'm not like this.
I started loving the ones who has the same sex as me(boys), but I've never talked to someone that I loved.
My question is: Am I allowed to love people who have the same sex as me and go out with them but not to touch them or make sexual intercourse with them or anything making God angry?
Thank you so much.

ANSWER: Friendship is allowed but not sexual exchanges.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes, friendship is allowed.
And I have friends and I behave with them as friends behave with each other. But some teenagers, I keep thinking about them so much and I start felling so so sorrowful and distressed because I didn't talk, see them...Exactly as a boy feels about a girl. That's what I meant. I hope you'd have the ability to solve this.
For about 4 years, I was like that.
I couldn't tell this to anybody, even to my parents. I know no one would understand me. If I do tell anyone, They would call me the most cruel and worse word ever"gay". I'm typing it and I'm trembling.
In almost every website I ask to solve my problem. They tell me to keep on reading Quran, going to the mosque, take control on myself. I did so, but unfortunately nothing worked.
I'm waiting for your answer.
Thanks for interesting.


Answer
You have this feeling for someone and he's a guy- so while Islam i as against this it recognises that love is uncontrollable- the most  you can do is find a counsellor who will listen you out and guide you unto a safe and resposnbile way of living your life without getting hurt as Islam is against harming oneself and others.